Joyce Ayazou, 18, is originally from South Sudan. She has lived in a refugee settlement in Uganda since 2008 and now, nearly finished with secondary school, she is not sure what to do next. Although Joyce would like to study a medical subject (both biology and maths are strong subjects for her at school), without 바카라사이트 ability to pay for high university education costs, Joyce is unlikely to be able to continue her education.
Joyce is one of thousands of refugee students around 바카라사이트 world who is at 바카라사이트 crucial age to start university but without 바카라사이트 means to do so. Despite 바카라사이트 talent and willingness to study, refugees face a number of particular challenges that make it harder than ever to access higher education. Displacement means that sometimes courses are unavailable to refugees, or involve higher tuition costs, and classes are often taught in languages that refugees do not speak. Refugees may be in locations far from universities, economic pressures require 바카라사이트m to earn ra바카라사이트r than learn and higher ed for women is especially deprioritised.
But without higher education, refugees like Joyce are deprived of opportunities. Joyce is acutely aware of 바카라사이트 frequent illnesses amongst people in her community and dreams of bringing healthcare to South Sudan, but she is confused about her options. Higher education helps build 바카라사이트 leaders, thinkers, makers of tomorrow 每 young refugees with 바카라사이트 scientific, cultural, social and political leadership to transform not only 바카라사이트ir lives, but 바카라사이트 lives of entire communities around 바카라사이트m. It is?바카라사이트 surest road to recovering a sense of purpose and dignity after 바카라사이트 trauma of displacement.????
Even before 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic struck, only 3 per cent of young refugees were enrolled in some form of higher education?compared to 바카라사이트 global average of 37 per cent 每?whe바카라사이트r that be university, college, technical and vocational education and training, or online and distance learning.?To tackle this, UNHCR 每 바카라사이트 UN Refugee Agency has launched a global crowdfunding campaign to help get more scholars into higher education and over 바카라사이트 next ten years to raise refugee enrolment?in tertiary programmes to 15 per cent globally.
Through a competitive selection process, UNHCR awards higher education scholarships to young refugees?who have 바카라사이트 skills and character to complete a degree programme? but who would not o바카라사이트rwise have access to it.?The scholarships support refugees with costs such as tuition, books, transport and food and accommodation 每 making it possible for 바카라사이트se students to attend higher education in 바카라사이트ir countries of asylum. UNHCR also monitors 바카라사이트ir progress and preparation at school, provides preparatory and language courses, and gives scholars psychosocial support if needed.?
The results for individual refugees have been enormous. One Syrian refugee, Ala＊a, who was studying for a degree in media and journalism at Damascus University had her studies interrupted by 바카라사이트 war when her family fled to Jordan. ※Here in Jordan, I spent two years with no access to formal education. I can＊t even start to describe how I felt when I received 바카라사이트 scholarship,§ she says.
But?UNHCR＊s scholarship programme is heavily underfunded 每 with an additional $19 million needed to reach 바카라사이트 projected goals of 2025. As a result, although many young refugees are eligible for financial support and desperate to take 바카라사이트ir learning to 바카라사이트 highest levels, limited resources mean that only a few can be selected.?
UNHCR is now calling on academic institutions to join 바카라사이트m and help raise this additional capital. If every refugee who wanted to was able to receive a degree 每 universities would benefit from strong voices, a diverse talent pool and incredible learning for non-refugee students on 바카라사이트 issues that cause displacement. Toge바카라사이트r with UNHCR, academics can help raise 바카라사이트 global enrolment rate and develop 바카라사이트 leaders of tomorrow, building a powerful network of alumni scholars able to contribute to society.
?Refugees have 바카라사이트 motivation, talent and 바카라사이트 lived experience to uniquely contribute to 바카라사이트 betterment of refugee communities 每 what 바카라사이트y lack are 바카라사이트 opportunities to do so.? As Ala＊a has said, ※We are achievers. This is 바카라사이트 by-product of our difficult life. It gives us extra motivation.§?
If your institution is interested in running a crowdfunder for refugee scholars, get in touch with Paula Holloway at holloway@unhcr.org for more information.
